Every March, Al and Barbara Lewis of Valdosta, Georgia sponsor a weekend Schipnick at a wonderful campground, Eagles Roost.  The Lewises have been Schip rescuers for many years, and they started this event as an opportunity for their adoptees and foster parents to have a reunion.  We attended our first Valdosta Schipnick in 2006 and made our way back to Valdosta for the next three years.  Then, while we were on our multi-year journey, Valdosta wasn’t on our route.  So this is the first year back.  The campground reserves the pavilion for our use and earmarks the sites closest to it for attendees with rigs.  Others stay in local pet-friendly hotels.  Unfortunately, continuous rain both days discouraged some, but the stalwarts had a ball.  This was my 75th birthday weekend, and Dot made sure a celebration was in order.

As usual, there was no lack of food.  Al and Barb treat early birds to Brunswick stew on Friday night.  Al prepares a sumptuous low country boil on Saturday, and the Lewises also provide most of the breakfast Sunday morning.  It’s become traditional in bad weather for the remaining revelers to crowd into our RV for the Sunday morning meal.

A special treat for us was the opportunity to once again see my godson, Midnight.  The little guy ran up to me and smothered me with kisses when I picked him up.  Fran is doing a superb job of training him as a therapy dog, and he’s already attained “Good Citizen”  status.